Of Arrogance,Awe and Adulation...

It is rightly said that controversy stirs up from the Indian Media quite spontaneously.

I have been fortunately conferred a week long mini vacation of sorts really…owing to the fact that the city goes to polls this week. My ideology is such…I vehemently refute ‘suggestions’ from my teachers (who, in vain, attempt to instill enlightenment within us) that we’d be better off spending our holidays on our study table rather than on the computer table. So quite predictably, like any other 15 year old in the country, I have decided that I shall spend any extra second I get either with my PC or my TV!

And so, on the 14^th of this month, as I merrily executed my delightful chore of lazing in front of my TV, my eye balls (prompt as always) latched on to something unpleasant. HEADLINES TODAY was the channel that brought me the only bit of news that thwarted an otherwise cheerful day. The headline said-‘Arrogant cricketers give Padma awards a miss’…and then I sat up bolt befuddled, unable to comprehend the startling bit of information. What followed was an expected flaying of the esteemed people in question, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (‘Captain Marvel’…remember?) and the perpetually obnoxious Harbhajan Singh, who looks as though every nanosecond of his life is a gruesome battle.

Some state with certainty and defiance that the two heroes were busy beaming to exuberant cameras, while in some other part of the city, barely a few kilometers away, the Hon’ble President of the country was very diligently and courteously putting her palms together in the traditional Indian Namasthe, bestowing honors on those pooh-bahs who, with their sterling feats, had brought the country glory. Having been a fervent servant of the Indian media (in terms of catapulting their TRPs) I am aware of the fact that reports like these are destined to arise when a hullabaloo like this is raked up, and henceforth it would be miserably imprudent of me to subscribe to these unsubstantiated reports and begin keelhauling the gentlemen in question.

Having said that, there can be no tangible excuse for giving the country’s fourth greatest honor a miss. Whether the two were fulfilling the lickerish desires of some corporate company for the lust of money or acquiescently going through the numerous security checks at the airport en route to Cape Town (where ironically they leave to fill their pockets) or catering to suspicious ‘emergency family commitments’, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh who are the revered lodestars of millions of green horns (which I’m sure they themselves are conscious of) simply cannot act in a manner that is condemnably frivolous, perky and seemingly influenced by the famous Indian chalta hai outlook.

On a lighter and merrier note, I urge myself every few minutes to remind myself of the fact that the IPL is just 48 hours away! And yes…I did ardently watch on TV that magnificent ‘road show’ held on the streets of Cape Town by the various teams waving and smiling equally enthusiastically at ballistic fans cheering wildly and probably throwing the traffic for a few hours into a complete tizzy! From Kevin Pietersen to Adam Gilchrist, from Yuvraj Singh to Chaminda Vaas, from Rahul Dravid to Shilpa Shetty, from Shane Warne to Lalit Modi, from SRK to Preity Zinta, the extravaganza seems no less on star power and they are indeed contributing unprecedentedly to the overwhelming success of the enterprise and boy! They are an attraction for everyone.

It might sound stereotypical but it is indeed correct that the league is wide open this time around with the non performers of the last season getting a stimulus package in the form of the newly purchased players. Take Bangalore Royal Challengers for example. They were unanimously voted as the ‘Test team of IPL 08’ (very rightfully…I remember supporting that tagline myself…) but look at them now. Kevin Pietersen…Robin Uthappa…Jesse Ryder (who I’m sure will have a rollicking time with Vijay Mallya and his products..!)…they are now serious contenders for the coveted trophy, presuming the latest treasure they’ve procured doesn’t betray them. My money this season is on the Bangalore Royal Challengers and the Chennai Super Kings, who’ve got the greatest plausible advantage in having Mathew Hayden for the whole season. Andrew Flintoff, in his little service period will, I’m sure, give them many reasons to celebrate. However, although I do not expect eyebrow-raising performances from Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and the Deccan Chargers, I’ve always had a soft spot for them and I do hope they do better than last time.

Oh…by the way…I awoke at 12:15 AM this morning to catch up with some sizzling soccer action and Cristiano Ronaldo rid me of my stupor with his stunning 40 meter goal to drive Manchester United into the semifinals of the Champions League. My word…they’ll pocket the trophy pretty comfortably annihilating Barcelona in the finals. If…sorry…when they do so, I vow to shower heaps of adulation on them right here…watch out for the post that’s promptly put up here immediately after the final, i.e., on the 28^th of May, written by a cock-a-hoop 15 year old lad!

For that stunning 40 meter adventure from Ronaldo,do visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4bjFcyYLSk&feature=related

Hang on…didn’t someone say Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t the best footballer in the world?